Are Republicans Turning On Pete Hegseth? – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth could be in trouble, with reports suggesting that he could face an impeachment vote as soon as next week. If CNN’s November 5 reporting is to be believed, Republicans are preparing to turn against Hegseth, one of Trump’s closest allies, following the massive defeat for the party in Tuesday’s midterm elections.
According to the report, multiple unnamed Republican sources expect to introduce an impeachment resolution against Hegseth and have it pass the House of Representatives when Congress returns next week. Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky, who has previously introduced impeachment articles against the defense secretary, said that he intends to force a vote in the House.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth boards the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser, USS Chosin (CG 65), Panama, April 9, 2025. U.S. Southern Command and the Panamanian security forces collaborate to ensure and maintain regional stability during natural disasters, medical catastrophes or regional conflicts. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Van Hoang)
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hosts a bilateral exchange with Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Feb. 7, 2025. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)
The news comes just two days after Republicans lost control of both the House and the Senate, with senior party figures blaming the administration’s unpopular war with Iran for the defeat. And while President Trump continues to defend his defense secretary, the challenge looks particularly severe — and could well pass.
Republicans Prepare Impeachment
Rep. Massie first introduced eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth on September 15, 2026, accusing him of violating Congressional war powers and improperly conducting military operations. Speaking to Roll Call on October 26, he said that he would pursue the impeachment effort immediately after lawmakers returned from their recess.
And Massie thinks it’s going to pass.
“I give it better than a 50 percent chance of passing,” he said then. “Will all the Democrats vote for it? I think the answer to that is yes. And then the second question is, do I get a handful of Republicans? And I think they’re probably more inclined in the lame-duck session to vote for it than they were before their campaigns were over.”
Given the Republican wipeout on Tuesday, those prospects may have improved considerably, with President Trump no longer holding the party’s grip he once did.
On Thursday, CNN reported that several Republican legislators are now considering backing the effort, and multiple sources in the party expect the resolution to pass.
Massie, who lost his Republican primary to a Trump-backed challenger earlier this year and will soon leave Congress, has also said that Hegseth’s resignation would stop him from pursuing impeachment.
Why Republicans Are Turning Against Hegseth
According to the report, Republicans are pointing the finger at Hegseth for playing a role in convincing President Trump to launch the war against Iran, accusing him of not having an adequate strategy to end the conflict.
Several unnamed Republicans told the outlet that Hegseth had exaggerated America’s ability to secure a quick victory and kept advocating further escalation even after it became clear that additional strikes would not force Tehran to concede. That criticism is compounded by the war’s high economic and military costs. By mid-October, the conflict has cost more than $47 billion, including about $30 billion in munitions.
Hegseth has also faced public criticism from Republicans, including Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who described his vote to confirm him as the biggest regret of his career.
Writing on X in October, Tillis urged the president to fire Hegseth.
“I have never witnessed more inept management of the brave men and women who serve our country. He is intimidated by competence and retreats to ginning up culture wars instead of soberly attending to the vital work of our national defense and the health and well-being of our fighting force,” he said.
Trump Isn’t Firing Hegseth — At Least, Not Yet
Despite pressure from Republicans and reports before the midterms that the president might fire Hegseth if the result was particularly bad, the president has publicly rejected suggestions that Hegseth should leave his administration.
Talking to reporters on November 4, Trump said that Hegseth was doing a “very good job,” but acknowledged that the war with Iran had indeed contributed to his party’s losses.
A November 5 report also claimed the president is considering replacing Pete Hegseth with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, though commentators have largely dismissed the rumor given DeSantis’ recent criticism of the party’s leadership.
Could Congress Do It?
Impeaching Hegseth would require a simple majority in the House of Representatives, so Massie’s effort could plausibly succeed with full Democratic support and a small number of Republican votes. But removing Hegseth from office would require more: a two-thirds Senate vote.
Even if Democrats take control of the Senate in January, their advantage would still be insufficient to remove Hegseth without Republican senators’ support.
There is also little historical precedent for removing a Cabinet secretary via the process. Only two Cabinet secretaries have been impeached. William Belknap was impeached in 1876, and Alejandro Mayorkas was impeached in 2024. Neither man, however, was removed through a Senate conviction.
About the Author: Jack Buckby
Jack Buckby is a British researcher and analyst specializing in defense and national security, based in New York. His work focuses on military capability, procurement, and strategic competition, and he produces and edits analysis for policy and defense audiences. He brings extensive editorial experience, with a career output spanning over 1,000 articles at National Security Journal, and has previously authored books and papers on extremism and deradicalization.
